Essays on the Rise and Decline of Bedside Medicine

Abstract

This is principally a history of medicine from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century with special emphasis on bedside clinical practice. A vivid historical perspective is developed stressing that the dialogue between patient and physician is essential to good medical practice, which can be supported by, but must not be replaced by, science and technology. An attempt to include the mass of 20th century developments would not augment Altschule's thesis, nor would including events before the rise of the successive leading European centers he considers. These include Padua, Leyden, Edinburgh, London, Vienna, Paris, and Berlin, which